Set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of same
A set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. The set-top box receives trajectory data from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, which represents motion-based commands provided by a user. The set-top box evaluates the trajectory data and sends a command signal to the television.
1. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
receive and process at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the at least partially processed trajectory data being representations of motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the at least partially processed trajectory data to assign a meaning to the motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
responsive to evaluating the at least partially processed trajectory data, generate a command signal to enable the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to have virtual remote control functionality, and
send the command signal to the television;
a configuration profile associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of proximate amenities in a multi-room environment, the plurality of proximate amenities including a particular amenity, the plurality of proximate amenities being associated with a user's stay in the lodging environment; and
wherein the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
provide instructions for icons on a touch screen display associated with the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device, the icons being associated with the particular amenity,
receive and process the at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device, and
responsive to processing the at least partially processed trajectory data, send a command to the particular amenity.
2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, the storage, and the wireless transceiver therewith.
3. The set-top box as recited in claim 2 , wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), and Bluetooth.
5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a short distance data exchange standard.
6. The set-top box as recited in claim 5 , wherein the short distance data exchange standard comprises Bluetooth.
7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially internal to the housing.
8. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially external to the housing.
9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises an antenna.
10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a smart phone.
12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least partially processed trajectory data further comprises gyroscope-based data.
13. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least partially processed trajectory data further comprises accelerometer-based data.
14. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least partially processed trajectory data further comprises temperature sensor-based data.
15. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the command signal provides remote control of the television.
16. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
receive and process the at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the at least partially processed trajectory data being representations of motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the at least partially processed trajectory data to assign a meaning to the motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
responsive to evaluating the at least partially processed trajectory data, generate a command signal to enable the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to have virtual remote control functionality,
send the command signal to the television; and
the at least partially processed trajectory data includes data selected from the group consisting of gyroscope-based data, accelerometer-based data, and temperature sensor-based data;
a configuration profile associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of proximate amenities in a multi-room environment, the plurality of proximate amenities including a particular amenity, the plurality of proximate amenities being associated with a user's stay in the lodging environment; and
wherein the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
provide instructions for icons on a touch screen display associated with the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device, the icons being associated with the particular amenity,
receive and process the at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device, and
responsive to processing the at least partially processed trajectory data, send a command to the particular amenity.
17. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
provide instructions that prepare the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device for motion-based commands,
receive and process the at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the at least partially processed trajectory data being representations of motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate processed the at least partially trajectory data to assign a meaning to the motion of the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
responsive to evaluating the at least partially processed trajectory data, generate a command signal to enable the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to have virtual remote control functionality, and
send the command signal to the television;
wherein the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
receive and process the at least partially processed trajectory data from the non-remote control proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device,
responsive to processing the at least partially processed trajectory data, send a command to a particular amenity; and
a configuration profile associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of proximate amenities in a multi-room environment, the plurality of proximate amenities including the particular amenity, the plurality of proximate amenities being associated with a user's stay in the lodging environment.
18. The set-top box as recited in claim 17 , wherein the at least partially processed trajectory data includes data selected from the group consisting of gyroscope-based data, accelerometer-based data, and temperature sensor-based data.